Bishop Media Sports Network
Braves Getting Scalped
By: TJ Hartnett
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
Going into the Division Series, few, if any, had the Braves taking 3 from Los Angeles and moving on to the National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers were in the World Series a year ago and still flaunted many of the big guns that they had in that Fall Classic, plus the huge addition of Manny Machado to their infield and lineup. They are bigger and scarier and have a recent track record. That’s fine. Every series is going to have a favorite and an underdog. So be it.
Going into Sunday’s Game 3, the Braves are in an 0-2 hole, having dropped two on the road in L.A.
That’s a bad spot to be in. Now they’ve got to win three in a row, but what’s been worse that the record has been the on-field play.
The Braves have yet to put a run on the board in the first 18 innings of the Division Series. The offense has been a dud. The Braves have scattered hits amounting to nothing and anytime a rally appears like it could begin, the next batter inevitably hits into a double play or strikes out to end the inning.
The Atlanta offense that ranked so highly in the NL in 2018 has gone into hibernation weeks too soon.
The biggest gut punch of the series, however, was Mike Foltynewicz’s Game 1 start.
He started the game by giving up a leadoff home run, which in and of itself wouldn’t have seen so big a deal, but it very clearly shook Folty hard.
He ended up throwing only 50 pitches and was yanked after giving up 4 runs in just two innings.
The runs and the inability to pitch deep into the game were an issue, of course, but nothing sucked the wind out of the sails of the Braves (and their fans watching from across the nation) like Folty’s complete defeat.
His body language gave it all away. He was shaking his head constantly, snatching the return throw from the catcher in a frustrated way and all-in-all looking like he had nothing to give.
It was the kind of Folty we hadn’t seen at all during his breakout year and it was clear to the entire country that he was just done.
Despite minimizing the damage to one run in what could have been a much worse bottom of the first, the Braves ace came back out for the bottom of the second and didn’t have it. The Braves ace gave up three more runs and showed even more defeat in his posture and mannerisms.
Even 4 runs aren’t an insurmountable hole to climb out of but Brian Snitker saw what the rest of us saw and pulled Folty from the game.
It was tough to watch. It was tougher still by comparison to the way the Dodgers were playing. Kike Hernandez and Yasiel Puig were making basket catches and sticking their tongues out while making sliding plays. They were playing so casually and with a confidence that basically shouted: “we belong here.” Their swagger alongside a lackluster Braves squad showed a divide between the two teams as wide as the distant between their two home cities.
Game 2 was easier to watch. Anibal Sanchez did what he’s done all season: keep the Braves in the game.
Unfortunately, Clayton Kershaw decided it was time to remind the world that he’s a future Hall-of-Famer with plenty of road ahead of him.
There was to be no scoring against the Dodgers on that night and in fact there were only three hits, two of them by Ronald Acuna, Jr.
It was a long shot for the Braves to win this series but there was hope.
While many Braves fans will be satisfied just by their ahead-of-schedule NL East crown, no one could have expected or wanted to see this absolute outclassing at the hands of the Dodgers.
But to end on a positive note, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger; and while the Braves aren’t likely to win after being down 0-2, this young squad will have gotten their first taste of the postseason. There’s only one way to go from here.
Shipwrecked
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The BHS Pirates were destroyed by Richmond Hill in the first region game of the season 41-7 at home in front of a sparse crowd at Glynn County Stadium.
The loss dropped the Pirates to 3-4 on the season and 0-1 in region play.
Nothing went right for BHS all night as they were only able to muster a 16 play 80-yard TD drive for the only score of the night on the first play of the second quarter.
Richmond Hill’s offense dominated the Pirate defense all night long which led to a running clock in the 4th quarter of a home region football game.
The Pirates travel to Effingham next Friday to try and regroup against the Rebels from Springfield.
This performance was very disappointing coming off back to back wins against New Hampstead and Monroe.
Pirate Report Card.
Offense: F. Other than one drive the offense didn’t do much on the evening.
QB KJ Lee was ineffective and the offensive line got beat consistently by the Wildcat front 7. Wide Receivers had too many drops. It was just an overall bad effort by BHS on the offensive side.
Defense: F. This was the worst defensive effort I have witnessed watching BHS football in recent memory.
There were penalties, missed tackles, physically whipped up front, couldn’t get off blocks, blown assignments in the secondary, and the list goes on.
F is the lowest grade on the grading scale, but if a Y or Z could be issued it would have been earned in this contest. The effort was lacking and this unit just looked bad.
Special Teams: C. Mitchell Richburg punted all night from inside his own 20-yard line. Translation that’s not good. The punt coverage was good. It may have been the only bright spot of the night.
Coaching: D. The game plan if executed would have been good enough to win, but this one is one the players not the coaches. However, when you get beat 41-7 at home the grade can’t be much higher than this on the coaching scale.
Overall: F. The players mailed it in at the half. That pretty much sums it up. You can’t sugarcoat lack of effort. This team never showed up in this contest. Very disappointing effort by the football team in this contest.
Next up Effingham on the road in what looks like a must win for Brunswick’s playoff hopes.
Glynn Academy Red Terrors Coach’s Show with Rocky Hidalgo October 3
Brunswick High Pirates Coach’s Show with Sean Pender October 3
Georgia Southern Eagles Flying Defense
By: Mike Anthony
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The vast majority of headlines created by Georgia Southern football in the modern era have centered around the Eagles’ exciting and often-lethal option rushing attack.
But, while the Eagles are in the process of revamping their option game and finding some success, plenty of the credit for the team’s 3-1 start to the season needs to be directed at a defense that has continually stepped up to the challenge.
Facing an Arkansas State team that was predicted to claim the 2018 Sun Belt title last Saturday, the Georgia Southern defense kept one of the more talented and experienced offenses in the league in check in a huge 28-21 victory.
The Eagles (3-1, 1-0 Sun Belt) actually allowed over 100 yards more to the Red Wolves than they did last season, but where huge Arkansas State plays highlighted a 43-25 win in 2017, the Eagles kept everything in front of them last weekend and were able to throw a wet blanket on the Wolves while the GS offense provided some late drama and the winning margin.
“Regardless of the situation, the good start we’re on is big for us,” GSU defensive coordinator Scot Sloan said. “It reinforces everything we’ve been doing since January.
“Our guys have put forth tremendous effort and sacrifice. They give up so much over the winter and summer for 12 opportunities to prove it on the field, so it’s good to see the fruits of our labor.”
Sloan came to Statesboro last December as one of the first hires made by Chad Lunsford after being given the official head coaching title just before the end of the 2017 regular season.
The 27-year coaching veteran seemed to be a solid fit from the start. Sloan had been an assistant coach on successful Eagle squads from 2002-05 and to give credit where credit is due, he played an integral role in quieting down Eagle offenses as a coach for Appalachian State from 2011-17.
Now back on the Blue and White sideline, Sloan has brought with him a 3-4 defensive scheme that is a rather stark difference from the four-man front that the Eagles are used to rolling out.
Plenty of talent has returned to the Eagles’ defensive front seven this season and a stellar job by Sloan and the rest of his defensive coaches has ushered in a smooth transition evidenced by some stellar defensive showings over the first month of play.
“It’s a building process,” Sloan said. “We learned the fundamentals in the spring and then had to put in a lot during fall camp. We went into the first week wanting to simplify the things that we had to do well to get a win.”
As is the norm at Georgia Southern, much of the talk surrounding games is always focused on the option offense that the program and its fan base views as its heart and soul.
Sloan and his defensive unit don’t pay much attention to which side of the ball is getting more attention, but parallels can be drawn through both units and their progression over the first quarter of the season.
Offensive coordinator Bob DeBesse has frequently said that his scheme is a work in progress and that new angles and wrinkles will be added as the offense’s execution and confidence grows.
Defensive concepts might be harder to spot in live action than added options and riskier offensive plays, but Sloan says that the feelings are much the same on his side of the ball.
“Our guys have adapted to the scheme well,” Sloan said. “Our existing players are adjusting to the scheme instead of us recruiting to it. It’s a testament to these players that might not be a 100 percent match of skill set to scheme that they’re overcoming with attitude and effort.
“You’ve got to know what you can hang your hat on each week. And from there, we just continue to build.”
Sloan and his defense will get its’ next test as the Eagles go for a second consecutive Sun Belt win on Saturday against South Alabama.
Georgia Southern’s homecoming game is slated for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Paulson Stadium.
MCA Buccaneers Coach’s Show with Tony Glazer October 2
Hootie-Hoo
By: Kenneth Harrison Jr.
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Kennesaw State Owls are flying high after beating Samford 24-10 Saturday. KSU (4-1) is ranked fourth in the most recent national FCS poll.
Senior quarterback Chandler Burks threw a touchdown pass and ran for two scores in the win. Burks led the team with 55 rushing yards. Shaquil Terry rushed for 47 yards and Jake McKenzie had 36 yards on the ground.
The Owls only had 66 passing yards and no receiver had more than one catch. The game stats were surprisingly close for both teams. Samford had 272 yards and KSU had 286 yards.
The Bulldogs had 19 first downs and the Owls had 18. The biggest difference was turnover margin, Samford had one and KSU did not turn the ball over.
Head coach Brian Bohannon has been the coach since the program started. He was a longtime assistant coach under Paul Johnson at Georgia Southern, Navy and Georgia Tech.
“We took a step forward to playing the kind of football we’re capable of playing here,” Bohannon said. “We didn’t beat ourselves. We didn’t play perfect, but we made some strides in all three phases.”
The only loss on the season came in the first game against an FBS team, Georgia State. The Owls almost won that game but fell 24-20.
The success Kennesaw State is having is amazing considering they just started playing football in 2015. They have never had a losing season and their record has improved every year.
Last season they won the Big South conference and made the FCS Playoffs for the first time. They advanced to the quarterfinals and lost to No. 5 Sam Houston State 34-27.
The Owls run a triple option offense and at the FCS level, it can be very successful. It makes me wonder if Kennesaw State is a legitimate national contender.
The top ranked team is the defending national champions, North Dakota State (4-0) and they have been the most dominant team in the past decade. They have won 6 national championships since 2011.
The Bison are going to be a very tough team to overcome. They are coming off a win over No. 3 South Dakota State 21-17.
James Madison (4-1) is the second ranked team in the country. The only loss came against NC State in a close 24-13 game. The Dukes won the national title in 2016 so they know how to win.
KSU begins Big South conference play October 6th at home against Presbyterian. The Blue Hose are one of the better teams in the conference. Campbell and Monmouth are also two very good conference opponents.
Charleston Southern and Gardner-Webb should be easy wins for the Owls. The season finale is home against No. 8 Jacksonville State. This will be the toughest test in FCS play and the result will have big implications for seeding in the playoffs.
For the season to be considered a success, they will need to advance further in the playoffs. That means they will have to get to the semifinals and I think that is a very realistic goal.
Moving On Up
By: JJ Lanier
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
It’s a rare occasion when you can say a college football team that has never won more than seven games in a season, and in fact has only two winning seasons throughout their program’s history, is considered a successful football program.
Those accolades are normally reserved for an eight-year-old in the form of a participation trophy. However, when it comes to Georgia State football, they are that exception.
Moving from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) is an adjustment for any team; some programs do acclimate themselves a little quicker than others. Regardless of whether you are an established program, or one just starting out, the transition can be unpredictable.
In Georgia State’s case, there was little reason to believe they would see any modicum of success after making the transition from FCS to FBS.
The football program didn’t even exist until 2010 and during the three years they spent on the FCS level, Georgia State has a combined record of 10-23. (The final two years their record was only 4-18).
Expecting them to be able to compete at all would be like giving me a guitar and waiting for me to tear into “All Along the Watchtower”, Jimi Hendrix style.
Yet, while Georgia State may not be at Jimi Hendrix level, so to speak, they have performed much better than anticipated.
After their initial first two years in the Sun Belt, which resulted in zero conference wins and only a single victory overall, they have become a legitimate competitive force within the conference.
I realize we live in an age where there are almost as many bowl games as there are football teams, but still it’s pretty remarkable that Georgia State has played in a bowl game in two of the past three years; they won their first ever bowl game last year against Western Kentucky in the Cure Bowl.
I’m not saying Georgia State is running unencumbered through their schedule, but considering they only won eleven games total during their first five years, making two bowls games in three years is something to be proud of.
Just for comparison, Georgia Southern has only been to one bowl game since arriving to the Sun Belt. (Yes, it’s a little misleading since the Eagles weren’t eligible for a bowl game during their first year in the conference due to a ridiculous NCAA rule. But even if they had been allowed to play in a bowl game, the bowl appearances between both schools would be equal.)
Regardless of what division level of athletics you play at in college, moving up in competition is never a guaranteed thing. A small college close to me just announced the other day that after transitioning from Division III to Division II a few years ago, they are transitioning back following this season. They just couldn’t compete at that level.
That easily could’ve been the Georgia State football program. Would anyone have been surprised to see them struggle and ultimately move back down to the FCS level?
Instead, they have shown the decision to join the Sun Belt was the correct one, and not just for financial reasons; they can compete.
Ten years ago, who would have predicted that?
Frederica Blast Patriots
By: Rich Bontrager
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Frederica Academy Knights kicked off the second half of the season with a bang as they entered region play.
Friday night the Knights traveled to Bellville, GA to play the Pinewood Christian Patriots.
For the first time all season, the Knights would receive the opening kickoff and start on offense.
Jaylin Simpson (Sr) would start at QB for the first time since his injury in the second game of the season.
Denver Anthony (QB) reportedly had a minor injury to his throwing arm and was used primarily as a running back and receiver throughout the game.
With the Knights coming off a bye week, the team was back at full strength with several other injured players back in the line up as well.
Frederica’s offense would go “no-huddle” and uptempo most of the night and frustrated Pinewood to no end.
The Knights would score twice in the first quarter, three times in the second and lead 32-0 at halftime.
Scoring highlights in the first-half included an impressive 33-yard rushing touchdown by Isaiah Jackson (RB), and Denver Anthony running in both a 7 yard and 22 yard TD.
“I think our offense really ran things well most of the night,” said Coach Brandon Derrick. “I was very pleased that we kept our pace all night.”
By half-time, the Patriots had only gained close to 50-yards in total offense, as the Knights defense swarmed to the ball and made it tough for Mic Wasson (Fr, QB) to have any time to set up well in the pocket and throw the ball.
It was a rough Homecoming game for the Patriot fans to watch as the offense fumbled the ball, threw an interception and had no offense until the second half.
The second half was on a running clock and saw many line up changes for the Frederica Knights.
JT Elliot and Thomas Veal both saw action at QB before Simpson was put back in to seal the victory.
With the change in lineup, the Knights defense gave up two TD’s to Pinewood and to two 2-point conversions to avoid a shutout.
The Knights would tack on one more score when Avery Cobb rushed down the near side of the field and scored on a 52-yard rushing play.
The score was made possible by a big surge of the Knight’s offensive line. A line produced big holes and great passing protection all night long.
“The kids played extremely well, and yet we gave two scores that cost us the shutout,” commented Coach Derrick. “Right now, it’s just the small details that we need to focus in on and tighten up on. But overall we are looking great for a big finish.”
The Knights now stand at 4-2 after getting the 39-16 win and spoiling another team’s Homecoming celebration.
Next week, Frederica will celebrate their Homecoming and host Westfield School on Saint Simons Island.
Sailing Pirates
By: Kipp Branch
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
One a hot muggy night at Glynn County Stadium the Brunswick High Pirates beat Monroe 42-6 on Homecoming.
Taylor Zachry was crowned the 2018 Homecoming Queen and KJ Lee passed for 3 TD’s and close to 300 yards.
Jaylen Trimmings rushed for two TD’s as the Pirate offense clicked on all cylinders and the Pirate defense continued to improve.
The Pirates now enter region play with a 3-3 record on the season as Richmond Hill comes to Glynn County Stadium for the region opener next Friday.
Pirate Report Card:
Offense: A+. The offense clicked all night long.
KJ Lee had another great game for the second week in a row. Lee tossed 3 TD’s to three different receivers.
Che Foy had another solid game with a TD catch. Amarrion Whitfield had a nice TD catch in traffic. Xavier “The Touchdown Machine” Bean caught his fifth touchdown on the season.
Jaylen Trimmings had TD runs of 49 and 2 yards and finished the game with right at 100 yards rushing.
The Pirate offensive line dominated the front seven of Monroe all night long. This was the best offensive performance of the year just in time for region play. This unit gets better week by week.
Defense: B+. The unit gave up some yards in the first half, but it set the tone after the half with a key sack by Octavius Butler on Monroe’s first possession and AJ Wilson added a 33- yard scoop and score to put the Pirates up 35-6.
Butler also recovered a fumble in the third quarter. Freddy Towns is the best defensive back in the region with another solid performance. The Pirate defense has only given up 12 points in the last 7 quarters and continues to improve.
Special Teams: A. Demetrius Hardee set up a TD late in the first half with a nice punt return and the Pirates made all 6- PAT’s. Kick coverage was pretty good most of the night. Best special teams’ effort of the season by BHS.
Coaching: A. BHS was well prepared in this contest. The offensive game-plan was excellent.
The up-tempo style kept Monroe off balance all night long. Adjustments were made at the half on defense and pressure was dialed up in the second half and forced Monroe into some turnovers.
The coaching staff has done a good job getting these kids ready for region play next week.
The Pirates were dealing with some injuries to key defensive starters in the contest, but the coaches plugged the holes and had the team ready to play at a high level.
Overall: A. The Homecoming win was the most complete effort of the year by this football team.
The team clicked on offense, the defense scored a TD and a special teams punt return set up a TD to put Brunswick up 21-6 right before the half.
The team is starting to peak as region play starts next Friday.
Next up Is Richmond Hill. The Wildcats travel to Brunswick next for the region opener. Brunswick has never lost to Richmond Hill in football.
The Pirates now stand 3-3 on the season. The next 4 games will determine the fate of the 2018 Brunswick High Pirates.
Get ready for a fun ride Pirate fans in the month of October.
